PPP to demand appointment of FM in parliamentary meeting

KARACHI: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has prepared the course of action ahead of its participation in the meeting of parliamentary heads convened by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday.

The PPP is expected to demand the appointment of a foreign minister. The post has been lying vacant and with the Prime Minister ever since he took oath in March 2013. The affairs of the ministry are being looked after by Advisor to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, and Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi.

PPP is also expected to advice the Prime Minister to develop a coherent policy on Kashmir, and develop a more aggressive lobbying on Kashmir issue through diplomatic channels across the world.

Also the PPP will advice the government to consult international experts, national security committees and lobbying firms on the Indus Water Treaty. The escalating tensions between India and Pakistan have also brought the 1960 treaty into the limelight which was brokered by the World Bank, as India has threatened to review the treaty.

The meeting will be attended by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, along with Khursheed Shah, Sherry Rehman, Aitzaz Ahsan, and Qamar Zaman Kaira. Many other parties including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have also confirmed their participation.